Hamilton Electric Nautilus 500 Stainless Steel Wristwatch, Cal. 505 – circa 1962

Lot description — Sphere Auctions LLC

This is a Hamilton Electric Nautilus 500, one of the historically significant American-made battery-powered movements that launched the "watch of the future" era. The stainless steel case houses the second-generation Caliber 505 movement, signed "Hamilton 505 Patented ADJ. U.S.A.," which replaced the original, trouble-prone Caliber 500 movement in 1961 with a far more serviceable design. The clean white dial is signed Hamilton with the pierced "H" logo and "Electric" script, featuring bold black Arabic numerals, black hour and minute hands, and a red-tipped sweep second hand. The stainless steel crown carries the pierced H logo, and the case back is signed "Hamilton W. Co., Lancaster, PA, Stainless Steel, P848092, Star W.C. Co." — a case reference falling squarely within the documented Nautilus 500 case number range. The watch is currently fitted on a lizard-pattern leather strap.Rene Rondeau's reference catalog dates this model's release to December 1962 at an original retail price of $79.50; no serial number system exists for Hamilton's Electric-era calibers (500, 500A, 505), so this is a catalog-matched estimate rather than a serial-derived date. The watch is currently running but would benefit from a full service and cleaning before regular wear.This is a battery-powered mechanical watch (Hamilton's pioneering electric movement, not quartz) and, while running, would benefit from professional service to ensure long-term reliability.